Brosius settles: $2.55 mil

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, February 19, 1997

PHOENIX - The only question was whether Scott Brosius was going to be rich or even richer.

Brosius officially became a multimillionaire Tuesday afternoon when the A's announced that the third baseman had agreed to a new contract, avoiding arbitration that was scheduled for Friday.

Brosius had wanted $3 million for the 1997 season. The A's offered him $2.1 million. He signed for $2.55 million.

"The compromise was largely predicated on our relationship with Scott and not on the relative strength of the two cases," general manager Sandy Alderson said.

"We were pretty close to splitting the difference. It was split slightly in his favor as a tip of the cap to Scott Brosius."

Brosius had his best season in the majors in 1996. Previously a valued reserve, he was given an opportunity to play third every day and responded by posting career bests in every offensive category except triples. He hit .304 with 22 home runs and 71 RBIs in 114 games.

The 30-year-old was outstanding in the field, at least until the final months of the season. He made only two errors in his first 57 games, then eight more in his final 57. Despite that late slump, his .969 fielding percentage was the fourth best among AL third basemen.

Alderson had additional motivation to reach a settlement. It means he hasn't had to go to arbitration since 1993, when infielder Jerry Browne refused to come to terms.

"I'm glad not to have to go to arbitration for the second time in the last 10 years," Alderson said.

KARSAY PITCHES: Watched by manager Art Howe, pitching coach Bob Cluck and assistant general manager Billy Beane, Steve Karsay threw 25 fastballs off the mound. Even though the batter, Izzy Molina, knew what was coming, he still had trouble making contact.

"He's throwing free and easy," Howe said to Beane after a few pitches.

"I was just thinking the same thing," Beane said.

Cluck was a pitcher in a previous lifetime.

"Did I ever throw like that?" he wondered.

"You only dreamt you threw like that," Howe said.

Suffice it to say, Karsay's performance impressed everyone. The right-hander was limited in his pitch count and pitch selection because Cluck wants all his pitchers on a restricted diet early. But Karsay said he threw curves while warming up with no adverse effect on his arm. He will throw again in two days.

WHAT'S IN A NUMBER?: Well, Dave Valle, if the number is 10.

It's a shock to see someone wearing former manager Tony La Russa's number. But after refusing to issue it to a player last year as a sign of respect, equipment manager Steve Vucinich has given it to the A's new reserve catcher.

"I said I'd only hold it out a year," Vucinich said.

"And it was a slam-dunk. Valle's always worn 10."

Vucinich says the only number he will keep locked away other than those retired by the team is Dennis Eckersley's 43.&lt;